April 10, 2006

Nikki, congratulations on getting Skirt! up in Atlanta. Tomorrow, the world!!

Design Matters

Business 2.0 presents its annual Design Awards, and it's compelling to see how much good design affects the bottom line.

For example, we have praised before the easy-to-read labels on Target's prescription drug bottles. Well, they helped Target's prescription drug sales jump 14% last year.

And how 'bout the iPod? There are several other MP3 players out there, but iPod's original design is not only great, but its Nano model - a little bit lighter and smaller - has gone gangbusters...with the result that Apple sold 14 million iPods during the last quarter of '05, vs. 4.5 million the comparable quarter one year earlier.

One of the most ingenious designs is the M&M innovation enabling customers to choose their own colors and messages. Go on the website, and you can choose from 21 colors and each individual M&M holds two lines of text at eight characters each. "Have it your way," for the sweet tooth set.

And how's it working? Online revenues are up 400%.

Don't Bet on It

"Fan" - as in "fanatic" - applies probably more to sports enthusiasts than any other constituency. Sports fans know their stuff. They know the stats, the odds, and - often - the outcomes.

But only 4 people out of 3 million ESPN viewers who predicted the Final Four teams got it right. And none of more than 2 million CBS viewers who logged on with their predictions got it.

It just goes to show that anything can happen. And nothing should ever be counted out.

Creating Homes with Women in Mind

The number one way women choose to relax is taking a bath. Spas are all over the place, and hotels and resorts now feature lavish bathrooms, often with a great view from the bath tub. Now builders are increasingly including large bathrooms in their apartments and houses...often they're as large as kitchens.

And, instead of marketing homes by showing the living room or master bedroom, smart realtors are including photos of the big, luxurious bathrooms.

A good example of knowing your audience and speaking to their needs.

We've passed through obsessions with kitchens...and now bathrooms. What's next?